Mean Mr. Mustard decides to lighten up, add express

Monte and Diane Rosemond, who owned and operated Mean Mr. Mustard Cafe in downtown Hendersonville, are moving their business to Kanuga Road and refocusing the concept on lighter fare at Mean Mr. Mustard Express.

Kate Stockman/For the Times-News

By Kate StockmanTimes-News Correspondent

Published: Friday, December 13, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 11:17 p.m.

If you look closely at the famous cover photograph of the Beatles walking across Abbey Road on the restaurant wall, you may notice each is carrying a bag from Mean Mr. Mustard Express.

The newly reprised restaurant is moving to Kanuga Road, in the location of the former Nibs restaurant. Monte and Diane Rosemond, the owners of Mean Mr. Mustard Cafe, are excited about the changes in their business.

"We wanted to create an offering that was healthier both for our customers as well as ourselves," said Monte Rosemond, whose passion for music set the tone for the restaurant. "We enjoyed five successful years with the cafe and were ready to downsize into a business that gives us more time to enjoy life, to do things like get to know our grandchildren."

Classic items from their former Fourth Avenue café menu, such as Eggs Diana, will be complemented by newer items, including breakfast wraps and sandwiches.

"We are also going to offer daily specials such as eggs Benedict — traditional as well as Creole and Mediterranean variations — in lieu of omelets and other a la carte breakfast dishes," Monte Rosemond explained.

Diane Rosemond will still be baking her famous biscuits, muffins, scones, cookies, brownies, cakes and pies.

"People will be able to relax and enjoy a meal with friends inside the restaurant or come through our drive-in window to grab a cup of coffee and food to go," she said. "In lieu of table service, customers will order at the inside counter, take a number for their table, and we will bring their food out to them.

"We have an espresso machine and will offer cappuccinos and lattes as well," she said.

The couple is focusing on supporting local suppliers. Coffee will be from the Brown Bean Coffee Co. in Brevard. They will also offer Joey's Bagels as well as fresh, locally baked breads for their sandwiches.

Brian Shipman, lead banquet chef at Season's restaurant, will be working at Mean Mr. Mustard Express in the mornings. "Brian is a soup ninja," Monte exclaimed.

Lucio Salitre, whom Monte nicknamed "Santana," will continue as the chef. "Santana started out as our dishwasher at the café," Monte Rosemond recalled. "He has an incredible work ethic and has learned and worked his way up to chef."

And while the menu caters to quicker, healthier offerings, a welcoming atmosphere will still be a major ingredient of their restaurant. "We want to keep the business personal and intimate," Diane Rosemond said.

"We moved here and opened the café five years ago this month," Monte Rosemond said. "The more we got to know the people of Hendersonville, the more clearly we knew we were home."

Diane nodded, adding, "That's true."

They plan to open Mean Mr. Mustard Express before Christmas.

"We want to celebrate the holiday season with our friends in Hendersonville," Diane Rosemond said. "Look for our sign on Kanuga. Once that goes up, we'll be open."

They will also "let their freak flags fly" with welcoming "Open" flags to trumpet the news.

Mean Mr. Mustard Express will be open for breakfast and lunch six days a week. A bright sunroom offers mountain views and an outdoor deck encourages open air dining in warmer weather.

The Rosemonds won't be accepting credit cards at this new location; instead, they have chosen to have an ATM inside their restaurant.

"We were being eaten up by credit card fees," Diane Rosemond said. "Now we will be passing those savings along to our customers."

The Express will continue to offer T-shirts that proclaim John Lennon's, "We all shine on." And the Rosemonds expect this new business will allow them to continue to shine.

"We want to control our restaurant instead of our restaurant controlling us," Diane Rosemond said. "With this new, simpler business, we will be able to do that. We'll even be able to take a vacation now and then!"

<p>If you look closely at the famous cover photograph of the Beatles walking across Abbey Road on the restaurant wall, you may notice each is carrying a bag from Mean Mr. Mustard Express.</p><p>The newly reprised restaurant is moving to Kanuga Road, in the location of the former Nibs restaurant. Monte and Diane Rosemond, the owners of Mean Mr. Mustard Cafe, are excited about the changes in their business.</p><p>"We wanted to create an offering that was healthier both for our customers as well as ourselves," said Monte Rosemond, whose passion for music set the tone for the restaurant. "We enjoyed five successful years with the cafe and were ready to downsize into a business that gives us more time to enjoy life, to do things like get to know our grandchildren."</p><p>Classic items from their former Fourth Avenue café menu, such as Eggs Diana, will be complemented by newer items, including breakfast wraps and sandwiches.</p><p>"We are also going to offer daily specials such as eggs Benedict — traditional as well as Creole and Mediterranean variations — in lieu of omelets and other a la carte breakfast dishes," Monte Rosemond explained.</p><p>Diane Rosemond will still be baking her famous biscuits, muffins, scones, cookies, brownies, cakes and pies.</p><p>"People will be able to relax and enjoy a meal with friends inside the restaurant or come through our drive-in window to grab a cup of coffee and food to go," she said. "In lieu of table service, customers will order at the inside counter, take a number for their table, and we will bring their food out to them.</p><p>"We have an espresso machine and will offer cappuccinos and lattes as well," she said.</p><p>The couple is focusing on supporting local suppliers. Coffee will be from the Brown Bean Coffee Co. in Brevard. They will also offer Joey's Bagels as well as fresh, locally baked breads for their sandwiches.</p><p>"We are planning lunch paninis, soups, exotic salads, wraps, and personal pan pizza specials," Monte Rosemond said.</p><p>Brian Shipman, lead banquet chef at Season's restaurant, will be working at Mean Mr. Mustard Express in the mornings. "Brian is a soup ninja," Monte exclaimed.</p><p>Lucio Salitre, whom Monte nicknamed "Santana," will continue as the chef. "Santana started out as our dishwasher at the café," Monte Rosemond recalled. "He has an incredible work ethic and has learned and worked his way up to chef."</p><p>And while the menu caters to quicker, healthier offerings, a welcoming atmosphere will still be a major ingredient of their restaurant. "We want to keep the business personal and intimate," Diane Rosemond said.</p><p>"We moved here and opened the café five years ago this month," Monte Rosemond said. "The more we got to know the people of Hendersonville, the more clearly we knew we were home."</p><p>Diane nodded, adding, "That's true."</p><p>They plan to open Mean Mr. Mustard Express before Christmas.</p><p>"We want to celebrate the holiday season with our friends in Hendersonville," Diane Rosemond said. "Look for our sign on Kanuga. Once that goes up, we'll be open."</p><p>They will also "let their freak flags fly" with welcoming "Open" flags to trumpet the news.</p><p>Mean Mr. Mustard Express will be open for breakfast and lunch six days a week. A bright sunroom offers mountain views and an outdoor deck encourages open air dining in warmer weather.</p><p>The Rosemonds won't be accepting credit cards at this new location; instead, they have chosen to have an ATM inside their restaurant.</p><p>"We were being eaten up by credit card fees," Diane Rosemond said. "Now we will be passing those savings along to our customers."</p><p>The Express will continue to offer T-shirts that proclaim John Lennon's, "We all shine on." And the Rosemonds expect this new business will allow them to continue to shine.</p><p>"We want to control our restaurant instead of our restaurant controlling us," Diane Rosemond said. "With this new, simpler business, we will be able to do that. We'll even be able to take a vacation now and then!"</p>